Follow UsNow that Axar Patel is fit and match-ready, India have released Kuldeep Yadav from the squad ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, Cricbuzz reported on Monday (March 7). Axar was recovering from a shin injury as well as a recent bout of Covid.
The Indian team management feels there is no point of having so many left-arm spinners in the squad. India already have two left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Saurabh Kumar in their set-up, and on top of that, they also have R Ashwin and Jayant Yadav.
Axar hasn’t played any competitive cricket since the Mumbai Test against New Zealand in December. The left-arm spinner missed the entire South Africa tour and also didn’t feature in the white-ball series against West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Axar has a superb record in the longest format of the game. The 28-year-old has scalped 36 wickets in five Tests at a stunning average of 11.86. Axar has five five-wicket hauls in 10 innings, and is most likely going to replace Jayant Yadav in the second and final Test.
India have also released second batting coach Apurva Desai, trainer Anand Date and physio Partho but have asked Sairaj Bahutule to stay with the squad.
The second Test will be a day/night fixture and will be played in Bangalore from Saturday (March 12).